Troopers: Hunter shoots charging brown bear sow in defense of life

PALMER (KTUU) - A hunter from Wasilla shot a charging brown bear sow in defense of his life, according to Troopers.

Alaska Wildlife Troopers in Palmer report Bobby Foote, 52, shot the bear while moose hunting with a partner in Palmer on Saturday.

“He dropped the bear with a single shot from a large rifle at close range. The bear stopped approximately three feet from Foote’s feet,” said Troopers.

The Trooper dispatch log says the bear was with a second year cub which is expected to survive.

Megan Peters, a public affairs spokesperson with AST, says the surviving cub would be left to care for itself in the wild.

Peters also said the responding Trooper considered the shooting “a credible defense of life and property.”

Alaska law states, “You may kill a bear in defense of your life or property if you did not provoke an attack or cause a problem by negligently leaving human or pet food or garbage in a manner that attracts bears and if you have done everything else you can to protect your life and property.”

However, Alaska law also states that a bear killed in defense of life or property becomes property of the state.

Troopers say the hide and skull were surrendered to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and will be used for educational purposes or sold at the annual ADF&G fur auction.

Online Public Information File

Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or fccinfo@fcc.gov.